West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-18

degrees it began to dawn on him
that he was the butt Of the regiment.
and then he became sulky and disa-
greeable. ~
But the time came when the gall
liant Louisianians had something
more important to think of than
"Gunboat Green" They were driven
into the ''bull-pen'' at Vicksburg by
Grants swarming legions, and every
soldier had to do bis duty like a
little man. The corps to which
Green belonged was stationed be-
hind cTescent.shapcd breastwork
seven milea in length. The land in
front for some distance was level,
and then sloped down a rayine and
up steep hill. The timber had all
been cut down, so there was u clean
sweep.
One afternoon the Federals charg-
ed the breastworks. They place |
their sharpshooters on the hill I,
pick Oft the Confederates when they
showed their heads. The Federals
charged in four columns, four deep.
The Confederates remained in the
pits four deep, and held their fire
until the Federals were within sixty
yards. Then the front rank open
ed fire and fell back, and the second,
and so on, until every gun had been
cmptied with terrible execution.
Finally, the assaulting party fell
back behind the timber that hal
been cut down, to await the coming
Of night. In this position they were
protected except from the top of the
breastworks, and the Confederalcs
would not take that exposed posi-
ton on account of the sharpshoot-
ers.
At this juncture an event of tAe
most unexpected and 'paralyzirg
nature occurred. Down in the pits
crowd of rough fellows were tor
menting "Gunboat Green" One
man told him that he was looking
rather pale, and advised him to go
to the hospital.
"Never mind about my looks
said Green, Il have presentimeaS
that / am going to be killed"
aBy nervous shock" suggested
corporal. and then there was a
laugh.
The object of this ridicule grittcd
his teeth and his eyes flashed fire.
Ill swear, boys" said one Of the
company, "thatif bullet is found
in 'Gunboat Green after his death
it will be one that was swallowed
Stung beyond endurance by these
taunts Green seized his musket an |
ran at full speed until he reachc !
the top of the brcastworks. Here
he had the Fedcrals behind the fall
en- timber in full view and easy
range. For moment both armic
looked on in breahless wonder On
that seven.mile line of breastworks
Green was the only man to be seen.
Then the sharpshooters commenced
firing at him. With white face,
blazing eyes, and nerves stretchc
to their utmost tension he took ala
and fired. Time and again he re-
loaded and pulled trigger, each time
hitting his man. BY this time the
sharpshooters were firing thousand
shots per minute at him. Some
of the Confcderates begged him TO
come down, but an officer said:
"Let the blankcd fool alone; they
can't hit him."
The men in the pits threw'up a
lot Of cartridges. and Green contin-
ned to fire at regular intervals. Bull
lets few past him as thick as hail,
but not hair of his head was
harmed. Finally, the brigade that
he was slaughtering in this merci-
less fashion could stand 1t no longer.
They broke and ran up the hill, los
ing several more on the way up un-
der the fire of the solitary soldier on
the breasworks.
.Gunboat Green" was the hero Of
the hour. Officers and privates surg
ed around him shaking him by the
hand and applanding his bravery.
Just before dark the Fcderals retired,
and party of Louisianians wentout
to look Mt the result OF Green's
bloody Workmanship. 1t was found
by actual count that his musket had
killed seventy-two Fc lcrals. Green
insisted that he had killed ninety,
but it is thought that some Of them
were only wounded, and their friends
had dragged them of. About tho
sevcnty-two dead men there could be
no Doubt. They we're there. and as
their bDlies Ia ! in place where was
not single corpse before Green com
menccd firing. 1t was plain enough
that he had brought them down.
A special report concerning Green
was sent to the commanding General
that night. The result would doubt
less have been promotion hut for tie
fact that Oh the following morni
aGunboat Green" was nowhere to
found. Later it was ascertain
that he had deserted and join
Grants army. Nothing further "
ever heard from him.-Eschange.